traaidmark

I dunno, My previous bike which was more XC orientated felt much better on the climbs than my current more trail orientated bike. Of course all the fitness related stuff apply, but I was much less fit on my previous bike than I am now! So yeah I guess there are some factors in bike design / weight / etc that make one bike climb better than the other. Of course it's also true for going down, my current bike blasts downhill where my previous bike used to suck.

Interesting talk. My main issues are also in my head. I'm quite tall (2m), and when i try smallish jumps the bike just does weird things below me, almost always making me almost crash. My bike does tend to throw me over, so i usually end up with a rear wheel in the air (not fun). This of course kills confidence. Then, I have the pedal dillemma. I like the stability of clip in pedals, but this in turns scares me on the really rough stuff, where i would prefer to be able to move my feet around. But on platform pedals, I get scared my feet lift off the pedals and i crash out. Dalk is ek net effing bang.

To be honest I don't have much experience riding in cycle parks and trails other than Groenkloof, so I guess my opinion don't carry that much weight. But, wen't riding at Teak's place for the first time yesterday and boy, what an experience! In my mind it beats groenkloof hands down! I had so much fun there yesterday, even after taking a dive into the dam when my bike slid out underneath me. The trails were fun, a joy to ride one. The amenities at the end, the bike stands, bike wash and restaurant was just pure win. So fun to just chill after a ride and have a beer and a sandwich and sharing war stories (like my dive into the dam after failing to keep my bike straight on that bridge!) It's a pity though that it's so far from Pretoria. Makes it a mission to go there, but will try to make a monthly trip!

Hectic

Thanks guys, will try out the lube thing this afternoon before I go ride. You guys are awesome.

lolol, I have checked that, first thing. My bike did creak when I got it, rear suspension, so it was the very first thing. It's defenitely the saddle area. Only happens when seated, the moment i lift it stops. Thanks though, I am prone to make silly mistakes.

Aweh guys, The saddle my bike came with started creaking recently, and it progressively got worse and worse until it would creak while riding on a flat tar surface, and annoyed me to the point where I took it off, and installed an old second hand one I had lying around. This was fine for about 10 minutes, and now same issue, which leads me to believe it might not actually be the saddle, but perhaps where it mounts the seat post or something? Any of you guys know about something like this happening? And more importantly, a fix for it?

I agree that politeness won't hurt anyone, and the few seconds you wait really won't kill your time so much. It's not a race after all. That said, I haven't ever had such a situation before. I'm not a slow rider, and usually I pass people on the singletracks, but the few times the really fast guys came past they usually either wait silently or politely ask, and then thank me. Most of the times the slower riders give way long before I am even in a position to ask to go past. I always thank them though. My opinion: I really think that the rudeness at Groenkloof is the exception, and not the rule.

I am 26, weigh in at between 92kg and 96kg. I am not even close to fat. not even slightly overweight. I am 2 meters tall though. Some people are just heavier than others. If I drop my weight to the 70's then I am just skin and bones and unhealthy. I also used to struggle with the hills, big time, but I also never made them part of my weekly training. I would be fit, but as soon as I hit Sabie I die. The only way to get good on climbing is to climb, lot's. Sure there are many techniques that help you, but they don't count for anything if you don't go climb hills as much as you possibly can. Just take it easy to begin with, give it a few weeks and you will eventually notice that you are getting stronger and better at it. Then go try those techniques.

Great thing you guys are doing. I saw you guys a few weekends ago, and was fully planning to stop by, but by the time my ride was over you guys were busy, and I was bombed, so I just went home. But awesome idea! I agree with @Weight Weenie about the bike wash. For R10-R20 I would defenitely use you guys! I would also REALLY appreciate a boerie, pannekoek and an ice cold beer after rides *hint* *hint*

Thanks guys, definitely going to go play Friday!

Nice one dude.

Hey dude, We used to go ride regularly at fountains, but somehow switched over to the reserve. So, seeing as I know of both, or at least, have been to both, my question is probably going to be ridiculously stupid: Do the two link up somehow? If I go to the reserve, can i switch over to fountains, and vice versa? I used to love the singletrack riding at fountains, but that's just for fun you know, you need to have some of the boring steady climbing of the reserve. Nice video, you made me lus to go ride fountains again. maybe Friday morning, as it's a public holiday!

Oddly, me too. When I had my barends, i used to use them for the above, but now I don't have them, I tend to do the same as you. lols.

Have exactly the same issues. LBS also told me the brake was missaligned. Get it sorted out quick, it get's much much worse. In time you will get speedwobbles etc. My LBS fixed it, and it was gone, but only for a while. it's now slowly coming back.

Yeah, I hate climbing with a passion. In my mind endurance fitness is completely seperated from climbing fitness. Force yourself to do hills. A lot of them. Start small, short but steep hills. Slog them out in granny ring forcing yourself to maintain a cadence from start to end of the hill. repeat. repeat. in a few weeks you will notice you start doing them much faster, in bigger gears and a little less completely dead at the top

My condolences to all who knew him.

Here is the pic. Or 1 of them at least. Pic has been deleted

Link works fine for me!

This is cheating I know, but i just take the new road up next to the fence there. MUCH nicer riding! But yeah, that bit is tough, give it time though mate, you will get there in the end. The trick is momentum, go as fast you can and keep the pace (in other words you need to know your line really well), and a thing i do is lift my front wheel over the rocks, then push myself forward, letting the rear follow. it kills your energy though...

Start slow. Don't just go and buy a new bike, and have the same happen to it than your current one. Ride the one you have, get fit, and when you really start to enjoy riding (ie, when you don't die on the hills anymore) then go and get yourself a new bike. It's what I did, and it was the best thing I could have done. As for your question regarding, upgrade or new. Get a new bike. Invest in a good frame, even if it has lower specs. Then you can slowly build up to your dream bike with small upgrades here and there. You can pick a pretty decent specced bike for not a whole lot these days. Best bet, figure out how you want to ride and go ask a reliable cycleshop for some advice. Hope it helps mate.

2m 92.3kg x-large frame

I too am a Crank Bros convert. Had candy's previously, now running eggbeaters! Ossom Pedals.

Yeah that Jekyll is damn nice. *orgazm*

Dunno, I am not a technical person, but the headset feels okay. Will update you when I know for sure!